“Stand up for what is right, even if you are standing alone” is a quote by Suzy Kassen. This is a major theme in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Many people in life find it extremely hard to stand up for what is right because they may be going against peers and family. For a person, it takes great courage to do this but it gives them a sense that they are doing the right thing. The author, Harper Lee, disseminates the importance of standing up for yourself and what is right in many different ways. She describes many characters doing this. Jem, Atticus, and Scout each represent the theme ”Stand up for what you believe is right” in the book To Kill a Mockingbird. Jem stood up for what he believed was right in many ways. For example, Scout quoted, “Jem has his own reasons for doing as he did.” (154). This quote explains how Jem stood up for what was right during the mob scene. Jem stood his ground and would not go home when his …show more content…
For instance, the quote “This case, Tom Robinson’s case, is something that goes to the essence of a man’s conscience- I couldn't go to church and worship God if I didn't help this man.” (108). This shows Atticus’ morals to do what is right and honoring to God. Although defending this man means his children would get a lot of grief and it's an unpopular move in the community, he still defended Tom Robinson. Also Atticus said the quote, “So if spitting in my face and threatening me saved Mayella Ewell one extra beating that’s something I’ll gladly take.” (222). Bob Ewell spitted in Atticus’ face but instead of lashing back he took the high road. This is important because he stood up for what he believed was right which was his moral integrity. Also, he never wanted to do anything that would change his integrity in his children’s eyes. Which is almost one of the bravest things to do is to raise his children well. Atticus’ courage in front of his town and children is
An example of this is when he takes the Tom Robinson case. When Atticus says that it isn't popular for white people to defend black people Scout says, “If you shouldn't be defendin’ him, then why are you doin’ it” (Lee 100). Atticus then replies, “The main one is, if I didn't I couldn't hold up my head in town, I couldn't represent this country in the legislature, I couldn't even tell you to Jem not to do something again” (Lee 100). This shows that Atticus has integrity because according to him if he does not do something then he can not tell his children to do it. He likes to lead by example and feels that there are certain things that if he does not do he can no longer be a respectable
You never really understand a person until you understand things from their point of view- until you climb into his skin and walk around in it. ”(39) This advice summarizes Atticus’s approach to people. His ability to interpret other people’s views makes him an extremely righteous character. Another example of Atticus’s empathy reflects in his reaction to Bob Ewell’s threats.
Atticus is a person of integrity and he always cares for
That lesson, which is the most important lesson that Atticus instills in his children, is to look at people’s actions and intentions because what is heard about people and what meets the eye is not always the truth and because the characteristics that define people are their behaviors and their actions. Things that people might see you as is not necessarily always the truth. Atticus teaches his kids when he says “I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead
A Man of True Dignity In a world full of injustice and cruelty, people like Atticus who fight against that norm are incredibly important. Harper Lee’s novel, To Kill a Mockingbird remains one of the best novels ever written, partially because of Atticus, a very wise man who embodies exactly what dignity ought to be. Atticus carries himself in a matter that deserves respect and honor. Not a word comes out of his mouth that he has not thought through carefully and he possesses words of wisdom for any scenario or situation in life. Throughout the novel, Atticus clearly lives his life in a very discerning, upstanding and peaceful manor.
The book “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee’s is in my opinion, is a demonstration of how vast ideologies and personalities impinge the society’s. Empathy is the ability to share other people’s experiences and feelings for their benefit. Empathy is a trigger to feelings of mercy, kindness, forgiveness, and the need to help vulnerable members of the society. To kill a mockingbird is an engaging and exciting story that greatly utilizes literary styles like symbolism to portray how empathy can influence coexistence among interactive people. In page 90 Atticus told Jem and Scout to “remember that it is a sin to kill a mockingbird.”
When Atticus find out that Jem, Scout, and Dill followed him into town, he demands that they go home, but Jem refuses: “We were accustomed to prompt, if not always cheerful acquiescence to Atticus‘s instructions, but from the way he stood Jem was not thinking of budging,” (203). Jem is maturing, and he is starting to understand the situation that Atticus is in because of his defense of Tom Robinson. While he would normally obey Atticus, he realizes that protecting his father against the lynch mob is more important. Jem displays his courage even in his stance, emphasizing that he is doing what he thinks is right in spite of the challenges he faces. As Scout interacts with the mob, Atticus continues to demand that the children go home: “‘Atticus stood trying to make Jem mind him.
Also it was courageous of Atticus to teach his children not to judge another until they know what that person is really going through. There is a quote that Atticus said “Never Judge anyone, until you have been in their shoes, and walked around in them” (pg. 86). Along with Atticus, Boo Radley is another character with courage. Boo saved Scout and Jem from Bob Ewell.
Atticus is beyond and wise in his belief systems. He is not so small-minded as some people in his town. He does not attempt to change the view on racism. He knows his morals, but does not force them on everyone else, another wise action. He does his best to get people to not let racism cloud their judgments in the courts.
Atticus, the father figure in the novel, possesses strong self-belief and courage and holds a lot of his own creeds. He sets up the perfect lesson
Atticus tells Scout to keep her head up and avoid any fights when anyone is saying something bad about Atticus. Keeping this in mind, when Cecil Jacobs is intimidating Scout by calling her Atticus a nigger-lover. She refused to fight thinking “Somehow, if I fought Cecil I would let Atticus down. Atticus so rarely asked Jem and me to do something for him, I could take being called a coward for him. I felt extremely noble for having remembered, and remained noble for three weeks” (77).
This act acknowledged Scout’s courage, as the next day when Cecil Jacobs taunted Scout’s father for defending and African American, she followed her father’s advice and walked off without a fight. Another example of courage is during the trial when Scout explained: “We acquire no traumas from watching our father win or lose” (Lee 229), while other lawyer’s children “Get the wrong idea, they think opposing counsel to be the personal enemies of their parents” (Lee 229). It takes extreme courage for Scout to not take the opposing counsel to an offense and understand that her father’s fight for equality was correct despite contradiction from others. To Scout, courage means to do the correct thing, although it may be difficult during certain situations. For instance, after Boo Radley saved Jem and brought him home, he asked Scout: “Will you take me home” (Lee 372), although Scout did not want to she still brought Boo to his destination.
“I learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear” (Nelson Mandela). This quote by Nelson Mandela reminds me of Atticus in the story To Kill a Mockingbird. Atticus had enough courage to overcome any obstacle that stood in front of him defending him, his family, and Tom Robinson. In the novel, To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee many of the characters have similar traits.
A person cannot call themselves a noble person if they can’t understand others. Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird is told in first person by Jean Louise Finch or by her nickname, Scout a 6-year-old. Harper Lee, depicts Atticus Finch as a proficient father to his two children, Scout and Jim, 10-year-old. Atticus teaches his children life lessons, one being it 's a sin to kill a mockingbird.
True courage is when a person does what he or she believes is right even when he knows he will fail. Atticus Finch sets aside his pride and reputation to be humiliated for defending Tom Robinson a black man, this is one of the truest acts of courage. Scout was questioning Atticus about why people say such offensive things to him. “ They’re certainly entitled to think that, and they’re entitled to full respect for their opinions. - I’ve got to live with myself.